Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs | Life Sciences Institute

The Life Sciences Institute (LSI), a Global Research Excellence Institute at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, invites applications for up to two full-time, fully-funded, tenured Tier 2 Canada Research Chairs (CRC) in Biological Resilience faculty positions at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure track) or Associate Professor (with tenure).

Tier 2 CRCs are emerging scholars, <10 years from their highest degree upon nomination. Chairs are tenable for five years and renewable once. Applicants must meet eligibility requirements. In accordance with UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, selected candidates will be restricted to members of the following designated groups: people with disabilities, Indigenous people, racialized people, women, and people from minoritized gender identity groups.

These positions are part of a Diversity Cluster Hire of six faculty positions for the newly-launched Biological Resilience Initiative, that integrates foundational, cross-disciplinary, and collaborative research across molecular, genomic, cellular, systems, and ecosystem scales to elucidate the mechanisms of biological resilience.

Successful candidates are expected to lead an innovative, impactful, and internationally recognized research program in biological resilience. We seek to identify individuals with interest in one or more of the following areas:

    • Resilience in metabolism and aging in emerging model systems (foundational science)
    • Resilience in tissue regeneration in model systems (foundational science)
    • Genetics of human health underlying resilience to disease (translational science).
    • Resilience and disease modeled with human tissue models (translational science)
    • Imaging technologies that provide unprecedented insight in living systems (technology development)
    • Emerging single-cell metabolomics, proteomics, or genomics to uncover resilience (technology development)

The LSI is a collaborative and diverse space for scientists from multiple Departments across multiple faculties. This cluster hire is led by the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, the School of Biomedical Engineering (SMBE), the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and the Department of Medical Genetics in the Faculty of Medicine, in partnership with the Department of Zoology and the Department of Microbiology & Immunology in the Faculty of Science. Successful candidates will also have opportunities to collaborate with a large and diverse community of basic scientists and clinicians at both UBC and the various health authorities in British Columbia. Successful candidates are expected to participate in teaching activities within the Faculty of Medicine and partner Departments in the Faculty of Science, as well as provide mentorship and training to undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate learners. One of the positions will be hosted by the Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences and the other will be hosted by the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D., and/or M.D, or equivalent. If appointed as Assistant Professor, successful candidates will be expected conduct original research, mentor post-graduates, and teach undergraduates. If appointed as Associate Professor, they will have demonstrated evidence of successful teaching and post-graduate mentoring, as well as sustained research activity. CRC Chairs must participate in their Departments, UBC, and the academic community. Successful candidates will have shown ability to communicate and interact with empathy, understanding and, respect of diverse perspectives and behaviours.

A complete application package must include:

    1. A cover letter (1 page)
    2. An anonymized executive summary of research plan and v This document will establish fit with the broad goals of the Biological Resilience Initiative prior to review of the main application. To reduce implicit bias, this high-level vision document cannot contain references to specific articles or identifying information such as the candidate’s name, gender, or prior institutions (1 page)
    3. The main application, containing the following sections:
      1. Most significant contributions statement (1 page)
      2. Research program proposal (5 pages, excluding references)
      3. Teaching and mentorship statement (1 page)
      4. Equity, diversity and inclusion statement (1 page)
    4. A full curriculum vitae (no page limit)
    5. The names and contact information of four arm’s length referees

Applications must be submitted via https://tinyurl.com/3nntswr9. For any issues with the application portal, contact Aryannah Rollinson, aryannah.rollinson@ubc.ca. Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2023.

In assessing applications, UBC recognizes the legitimate impact that leaves (e.g., maternity leave, parental leave, leave due to illness) can have on a candidate’s record of research achievement. These leaves will be taken into careful consideration during the assessment process.

At UBC, we believe that attracting and sustaining a diverse workforce is key to the successful pursuit of excellence in research, innovation, and learning for all faculty, staff and students, and is essential to fostering an outstanding work environment. Our commitment to employment equity helps achieve inclusion and fairness, brings rich diversity to UBC as a workplace, and creates the necessary conditions for a rewarding career.

The University is committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive and equitable work environment for all members of its workforce. An inclusive work environment presumes an environment where differences are accepted, recognized, and integrated into current structures, planning, and decision-making modes. Within this hiring process we will make efforts to create an inclusive and equitable process for all candidates (including but not limited to people with disabilities).  Confidential accommodations are available on request for applicants who are short-listed. Please contact Aryannah Rollinson via email at aryannah.rollinson@ubc.ca.

To learn more about UBC’s Center for Workplace Accessibility, visit the website here https://hr.ubc.ca/CWA.

CRC Tier 2 nominees are expected to be (a) are excellent emerging world-class researchers who have demonstrated particular research creativity (b) have demonstrated the potential to achieve international recognition in their fields in the next five to ten years, and (c) have the potential to attract, develop and retain excellent trainees, students and future researchers. Normally, applicants for Tier 2 Chairs should be no more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree at the time of Chair nomination.  Applicants who are more than 10 years from having earned their highest degree (and where career breaks exist, such as maternity, parental or extended sick leave, clinical training, etc.) may have their eligibility for a Tier 2 Chair assessed through the program’s Tier 2 justification process. Nominations are subject to review by the CRC Secretariat, and appointment as a CRC is conditional upon their approval. Consult the Canada Research Chairs website www.chairs.gc.ca for full program information, including further details on eligibility.

UBC is committed to creating a more equitable, inclusive, and diverse environment so that historically, persistently, or systemically marginalized are treated equitably, feel respected, and belong. Please read the Inclusion Action Plan to learn steps UBC is taking to create a more inclusive campus (https://equity.ubc.ca/about/inclusion-action-plan/). We welcome applications from scientists who have an interest in promoting equity and inclusion among diverse scientists at any level.

In accordance with UBC’s CRC Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion Action Plan
[https://academic.ubc.ca/sites/vpa.ubc.ca/files/documents/EDIAP%20-%2013%20DEC%202018%20EE.pdf], and pursuant to Section 42 of the BC Human Rights code, the selection will be restricted to members of the following designated groups: people with disabilities, Indigenous people, racialized people, women, and people from minoritized gender identity groups.  Applicants to CRC positions are asked to complete this equity survey [https://ubc.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6WJHol7SfPxRMu9] as part of the application, and candidates from these groups must self-identify as belonging to one or more of the designated equity groups to be considered for the position. Because the search is limited to those self-identifying as members of designated equity groups, candidates must also provide their name to be considered.

Personal information is collected under the authority of sections 26(a), 26(c) and 26(e) of the BC Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. The information you provide will only be used to determine whether you qualify for participation in this restricted process, and to advance accessibility, equity, and fair adjudication in this process. Data will be collected by the Equity & Inclusion Office and shared confidentially with the search committee. All responses will be stored in a secure database.